John m



(No Model.)

J. ROS'EBRO0KS.-

HARVESTER.

Patented Dec. 12, 1882.

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N. PETERS. Phuto-Lilha n her, wmin mn. D. C.

UNITE STATES PATENT 01mins.

JOHN MROSEBROOKS, or HOOSIGK FALLS, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro WALTER A.

WOOD MOWING AND REAPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

.HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,828, dated December 12, 1882.

Application filed February 19, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN M. RosEBRooKs, ofthe village of Hoosick Falls, in the county of ltensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Harvesters,ot' which the following description, in connection with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, constitutes a specification.

This invention is applicable to that class of harvesters wherein the main frame is supported upon the axle of the driving-wheel; and it re-' lates to mechanism provided for facilitating 'the raising and lowering of such main frame upon said axle, and to the means provided for [5 securely locking and maintaining in position the several parts when the main frame has been adjusted to the desired height.

Figure 1 presents aview in side elevation of the drivin g-wheel of an ordinary harvester, and

a portion of the main frame to which its axle is attached. Fig. 2 exhibits a top plan view of the same parts. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the ratchet and pawl, and of the pinion, dog, and lifting-chain, with their several connections. Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the segment-racks, in which one end of the main axle is confined, and with which one of the pinions on said axle engages. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of one of the segment- 3c racks, taken on the dotted line 3 g of Fig. 4,

and shows the construction of the way and flanges on the segment-rack platein which the end of the main-wheel axle works. Fig. 6 is a side view of the ratchet-lever employed, in con- 5 nection with the pawl and ratchet shown in Fig. 3, for adjusting the elevation of the main frame.

Upon two parallel side bars, F-F, of the main frame are attached the two rack-plates 4'0 M M-one on either side of the driving-wheel. Each ofthese plates supports asegment-rack, N, projecting inwardly toward the drivingwheel, as seen in Fig. 5, and aninwardly-open flanged way, Q, arched over or otherwise 5 closed at the top, as shown in Fig. 4 at P, and a open at the bottom. Both the way Q. and the segment-rack N are constructed on arcs concentric with the axis of the pinion-gear,which engages with and is driven by a. gear on the driving-wheel A.

The axle B of the main wheel A has rigidly (No model.)

fixed thereon near each end a small pinion, B, so disposed on the axle as to take into the racks N N, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Outside of pinionsRR, at each end of the main 5 axle, it is necked, as at n, Fig. 5, thus leaving each end of the axle in the form of a button, (shown at b, Fig. 5.) In the assemblage of the mechanism the button end b of main axle B isentered in the way Q at its open or bottom end, and the curvilinear flanges a a, which constitute the inner wall of way Q, take into the necking n of the main axle. When so entered, and the axle is elevated, the teeth of pinions R R fall into engagement with those of racks N N, as seen in Fig. 3. The office of the curvilinear flanges a aand of thenecking n and button bof the axle B,whenin combination,

is to preserve and maintain the axial adjustment of axle, pinions, and segment-racks with each other, and also to hold the pinions It It in mesh with the teethof the segment-racks N N, so that they may not slip out of gear.

Adjacent to the innermost pinion, R, on the main axle B is rigidly fastened the hoisting-sheave O. In the groove of this sheave the hoisting-chain D lies, one end thereof being fastened in the groove by a pin, m, Fig. 1, passing through one of its links. The chain D is thence carried back over and is fastened to the ratchet-drum E by means of the pin m, as in Fig. 2. Ratchet G and drum E are an integral piece, and revolve on a stud projecting from a bracket, K, which is attached to some convenient part of the frame in rear of 8 and in line with the hoisting-sheave 0.

Just beneath the ratchet G a stud, 6, projects from bracket K, upon which is pivoted the pawl J, which is arranged to co-operate with the teeth of ratchet Gr. Paw] J is made to be 0 pivoted in its middle part, and has its outer end loaded, so that its normal tendency is to keep in engagement with the teeth of ratchet G. When pinions .R R stand at any other point relative to the segment-racks than their 5 highest limit of movement thedown'ward stress of the frame (or tendency of the racks to run down on the pinionsRR) is transferred through sheave 0, chain D, and ratchet-drum E G to the pawl J, which sustains and resistssuch ICO stress or thrust; t

In order to resistany counter movement of the pinions B R which might be induced by iolt or jar caused by rnnningon uneven ground or over stony places, a cheek-dog, H, is provided, which is pivoted to some part of the main frame, or to some appurtenance thereof entirely independent of the main axle and its appurtenances and of the lifting-ratchetGr and its various attachments. Such pivotal attachment T of said dog is coincident with the axis of revolution of the pinion-shaft which is driven by the principal driving-gear of driving-wheel A. Check-dog H is of such length as to take intotbe teeth on the upper side of one of the pinions R, as shown in Fig. 3, and its point of attachment T is between the ratchet-drum G E and the pinion R with which it engages. Both rack-plates M M arein all essential respects alike, except that they are made right and left handed.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The main wheel having been slipped onto the axle B in connection with such other parts as have a place on said axle, it is placed in its approximate position between side bars, F F. The main frame is then elevated or blocked up sufficiently to permit the axle B to roll or pass under the lower end of racks N N, so as to bring the buttons b b at each end thereof directly under the lower open end of the flanged way Q,so that when the frame is lowered each button I) may enter the concentric flanged slot or way Q,

the flanges a or entering the annular groove or necking n at each end of the axle B. By further lowering theframe the teeth ofpinionsB R engage and mesh with theteeth ofthe segmentracks N N, the said pinions relatively climbing up the racks N N as the frame is lowered, until the buttons 1) b reach the upper limit of their movement at the inclosed terminus P of the flanged way Q. At this point theframe will rest on the axle. Connection between sheaveCand ratchet-drum E is next established by connecting one end of the hoisting-chain D to each by the means provided therefor, as hereinbefore described. The parts are now in substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, the frame being at its lowest elevation, or where the cutter-bar of the harvester is nearest the ground. To elevatethe frame from this position the ratchetlever is hooked onto the teeth of ratchet G, and by means thereof the drum E is rotated in the direction to wind the chain D onto drum E. Whilecarryingontthis movementthe weighted pawl J preserves close contact with the ratchetteeth on drum E. At the same time, under the influence of chain D, sheave O is revolved, and with it axle B and pinions R R, dog H meanwhile being held out of engagement with the teeth of the pinion with which it co-operates. As a-consequence of such revolution the segment-racks and superimposed framework of the harvester are bodily elevated, the

pawl J following up the ratchet G and looking it at each successive change of grip of the hoisting-lever as the elevating process advances. When the desired altitude of the frame is secured in this way dog H-is thrown into engagement with the teeth of pinion R, and when so adjusted all rotation of the axle B in either direction is prevented. To let the frame down from an elevated position it is only necessary to attach the hoisting-lever to the ratchet, as before described, and by taking the downward stress or tension off-from pawl J the same can be disengaged with one hand while the lever may be manipulated with the other, dog H slipping over the tops of the pinion-teeth as pinion R rolls up on the rack N, the frame meanwhile descending by gravity.

Heretofore the frame of harvesters has been provided with segment-racks formed with a guideway on the side adjoining said rack to receive a flange or face plate forming a part of each pinion that gears with the rack; but such construction does not give the stability to the parts that I obtain with the small head and neck formed on each end of the axle, in connection with the segment supporting plates or standards flanged on both sides of the path of the axle and turned in toward each other to embrace the small neck out in the metal of said axle.

I claim as my invention- 1. As a means for holding the pinions on the mainaxle in uniform engagement with the teeth of the segment-racks with which they cooperate throughout their path of travel alongsaid racks, the annular groove or necking on each end of the main axle, in combination with the inferioror double-hook back flange turned in on each side and. constructed upon the segment-rack plates, substantially as described and set forth.

2. A plate having provisions whereby it may be attached to some suitable part of the main frame, provided with an open guideway, the opposite edges of which are raised ledges or flanges parallel with and turned in toward each other and adapted to take into an annular groove or necking upon or near the end ofthe main axle and meeting or uniting at the top of such guideway, in combination with the main axle formed independently of the pinion placedthereon, with a head or button which is adapted to enter and slide in said guideway, substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereto subscribed my name, at Hoosick Falls,N.Y.,this 15th day of February, A. D. 1881. I

i J. M. ROSEBROOKS.

In presence of- FRANKLIN Soorrr, GEo. EVANS.

IIO 

